Spain is about to launch the most important advanced communications satellite ever built in Europe. The project, named SpainSat, has involved the main companies in the country's military and space industry, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises from all over the territory. An investment of 2,000 million has been made in this project, with the expectation of recovering it through the revenues generated by the various clients who will use it, all within the framework of NATO, during its expected 15-year lifespan.
Indra, Airbus, Tass, Sener, IberEspacio, Tecnobit, Crisa, TTI Norte… are some of the companies that have participated in the design and manufacture of the different components of Spain's flagship satellite. “It is a huge success for the Spanish industry,” explained Miguel Ángel García Primo, managing director of Hisdesat, the public satellite operator under the Ministry of Defense, on Wednesday. “There are no antennas like these in Europe,” he added, referring to a project that places Spain among the most advanced countries worldwide in communication systems, on par with the United States.
The initial contract for SpainSat was signed in July 2019, so the project has taken five years to come to fruition. Only the launch remains, which will take place from the SpaceX base, owned by the tycoon Elon Musk, at Cape Canaveral in Florida, a facility used by the United States Space Force. The launch is scheduled for January 28 at 11 p.m. Local time, which will be 5 a.m. The following day in the Iberian Peninsula. The launch window is two hours.
At this moment, the Spanish satellite is already assembled. It was done in the integration room in Madrid, in the municipality of Tres Cantos. Antennas, modules, thermal vacuum tests were performed, propellants were loaded (with xenon gas). Yesterday, the project was placed in a large container that is traveling to Toulouse. The satellite fits in that container by mere millimeters.
Tomorrow, from the air base in the French city, the Spanish flagship project will travel in the hold of an Antónov cargo plane to Florida. It will be heavily protected with special shock absorbers to prevent accidents, as García Primo has explained. And, of course, insured in case of mishap, something that has not been easy due to the issues that several top-tier insurers have faced with recent incidents.
Spain joins the small club of countries that offer secure communications: USA, UK, France, and Italy
The reception antennas are located in Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid. The main client of SpainSat will be the Ministry of Defense, although Hisdesat already warns that it will try to provide service to NATO. Up to now, only four countries can offer secure communications: United States, United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Therefore, Spain joins the exclusive club. Some clients have already shown their willingness to hire the Spanish satellite, such as the EU, United States, Portugal, and Norway. Hisdesat is in negotiations with more allied governments of the Atlantic alliance.
The initial investment in Spain's flagship satellite has been 800 million, but it will reach up to 2,000 million during its lifespan. These figures include both functions in space and on land. The financing has involved the ministries of Defense, Industry, and Science and Universities.
The SpainSat will allow Spain to position itself at the forefront of space technology developments. The most significant aspect of the project is the active antennas, which are the most ambitious ones ever made in Europe. The satellite also provides advanced security for Spain and protects the country from the effects of an electromagnetic pulse that may be generated by a nuclear explosion. It will also be able to geolocate threats using standards validated by NATO.
In manufacturing, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine influenced the process, as supply chain disruptions altered delivery times and prices of materials and components. Furthermore, some parts had to be modified because they were of Russian manufacture. Specifically, the satellite's ion engine came from a supplier based in Russia.
Spain plans to launch the second advanced communications satellite into orbit after the summer, aiming to provide coverage over most of the globe.
